In the Philippines, traditional New Year’s Eve foods commonly have round shapes to symbolize prosperity.
The practice is part of Media Noche, the midnight meal shared by Filipino families as the old year changes to the new one. Round fruits are especially prominent because their shape resembles coins. Families may display or serve twelve kinds of fruit, with the number twelve representing the months of the coming year.
Other customs associated with Media Noche include making noise, keeping doors open at midnight, and preparing foods believed to encourage abundance. Exact menus vary between households and regions, so the round-fruit tradition is more consistent than any single required dish.
The symbolism is sometimes confused with Spain’s twelve-grape custom. Both traditions use twelve items and are linked to luck, but they are distinct customs: Spain centers on eating grapes with the midnight chimes, while the Filipino practice emphasizes round shapes and prosperity at the family midnight feast.